A former youth football coach and scout, who was due to stand trial accused of the sexual abuse of boys aged under 16, has died in a car crash.

Michael ‘Kit’ Carson, who once hosted 12 boys from Ridgeway Rovers, Essex, while youth manager at Norwich City - including football superstar David Beckham - died following the road traffic collision yesterday at 9.45am (Monday, January 7).

The collision happened on the A1303 in the village of Bottisham, five miles from Cambridge.

Police said a man had died following the single-vehicle accident and he was declared dead a short time after the arrival of emergency services.

At Peterborough Crown Court it was explained that the car involved had been registered to Carson and the person who died was the appropriate age and had in his possession identification documents in the name of Carson.

The court also heard the 75-year-old’s widow had identified his body.

Michael Carson's trial had been due to officially start on Monday at 10am at Peterbrough Crown Court - just 15 minutes after he died in the car crash.

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Speaking to the Eastern Daily Press newspaper in 2002, Carson said: “The 12 boys came and they stayed at a youth hostel in Norwich.

"We trained every day at Trowse, and I enlisted the help of two young players, Robert Ullathorne and Jason Minnett.”

While working at the club, Carson worked with children aged nine to 16, training future Premier League stars Chris Sutton and Ruel Fox.

Carson also told the newspaper: “In general, these Essex lads were a nightmare, complete scallywags, but one boy stood out unbelievably as an absolute gem, both on and off the ball, and that was David Beckham."

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